Load of rubbish!!

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

A Masterpiece!

A Disappointing Continuation

The Invisible Woman, the third installment of the Invisible Man series, was a let down. When the movie began, it seemed to have a good idea. However, the writers, director, and producer had no idea how to turn it into a good movie. It seemed like after the release of The Invisible Man Returns (1940), Hollywood tried to rush and get another sequel out. Therefore, this movie was not quality. Do not waste your time. After seeing 27 minutes of this film, I have concluded that I am done with the Invisible Man, only finding the first 2 movies a success.

Brassy model Kitty Carroll (a delightfully vivacious performance by Virginia Bruce) volunteers to be a guinea pig for an invisibility experiment conducted by dotty old duffer Professor Gibbs (an endearingly eccentric portrayal by John Barrymore). Complications ensue when three bumbling gangsters steal Gibbs's invisibility machine so they can make their nefarious boss Black Cole (Oskar Homolka in fine oily form) invisible.Director A. Edward Sutherland relates the enjoyably silly story at a brisk pace and maintains an amiable lighthearted tone throughout. Moreover, it's acted with zest by an enthusiastic cast: John Howard as smooth playboy Richard Russell, Charles Ruggles as blundering butler George, Margaret Hamilton as shrewish housekeeper Mrs. Jackson, Charles Lane as the sadistic Mr. Growley, Shemp Howard as the klutzy Frankie, and Donald McBride as the doltish Foghorn. The clever script by Robert Lees, Gertrude Purcell, and Frederic I. Rinaldo offers a wealth of witty dialogue. The practical old school special effects possess a certain quaint charm. Kudos are also in order for Frank Skinner's bouncy score and Elwood Breden's crisp black and white cinematography. A frothy'n'funny romp.

Kindly ignore the scathing comments of some of the professional critics. Collectively, the reviewers herein have provided a much more balanced assessment of this fun film: a refreshing comedic take on a subject otherwise treated seriously, except for the later "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man". Seems rich playboy Richard Russell(John Howard) has been supporting old Professor Gibbs' dubious efforts at inventing. But Russell is suddenly informed by his accountant that he is broke, hence can no longer support Gibbs' research. However, Gibbs says he's on the verge of a revolutionary invention that makes people invisible, and is reversible. Gibbs puts an advertisement in the paper for a volunteer guinea pig. The first to respond is a charming model, Kitty(Virginia Bruce), who has recently been fired by her excessively strict boss, Mr. Growley(Charles Lane), who lives up to his name. Kitty would like to become invisible to help her teach Mr. Growley a lesson. Probably the funniest part of the film is where Kitty, in her invisible guise, descends on Mr. Growley, creating havoc in his office and the outside showroom area. Much reminds me of "9 to 5". Fortunately, in response, Mr. Growley institutes a more lenient attitude toward his girls, and gives Kitty back her job, not knowing she was the angry spirit.When gangster Blackie learns of this wondrous invention, he sends 3 goons(Shemp Howard, Edward Brophy, and Donald McBride) to steal it and bring it back to his Mexico hideout. He wants to become invisible, so he can return to the US. The goons enter Gibbs' lab when he's not there,and stuff his complicated electronic equipment in their car. But when they try it out in Mexico, they can't get it to work. So, Blackie orders that they kidnap Gibbs so he can show them how it works(They're missing the liquid potion part of the formula). They take visible Kitty, as well("We're not going for a drive, we're being taken for a ride" she quips). When they get to the Mexican hideout, it's visible Kitty who manages to become invisible, and knocks the gangsters unconscious. She then proceeds to firm up her flirtation with Russell, who feels he has a gold mine in this invention.I haven't mentioned Russell's butler, George(Charles Ruggles), who has a significant role in dealing with Kitty's invisibility in Russell's mansion or fishing lodge. Among other things, she picks up a cat, which George interprets as a flying cat, and throws it to George.Currently available at YouTube, although that copy has a number of pauses in the first half. Just back up a little and run it again.

Virginia Bruce is "The Invisible Woman" in this 1940 comedy that has nothing to do with the classic "The Invisible Man." The sad part for me is seeing John Barrymore, one of the greatest actors who ever lived, in a character role in this B+ film (budgeted at a whopping $300,000, a great deal more than usual B movies), even though he was excellent and the film is very enjoyable.Bruce plays Kitty Carroll, a department store model. She and the other models at the store are badly treated by their boss (Charles Lane) -- if they come in two minutes late, they're docked an hour, if they're sick, they're fired - he's a beast.John Barrymore is Professor Gibbs, a scientist who has invented a machine that will render people invisible. His patron, the wealthy Robert Russell (John Howard) is now broke thanks to all the lawsuits he's lost to girlfriends, and tells Gibbs that he can no longer support him. Gibbs desperately needs to make a human person invisible so he can patent his machine and both he and Russell can make some money. He advertises and gets Kitty, who has a particular agenda in mind.The Bruce role was intended for Margaret Sullavan, who refused to do it. Bruce is delightful, but with her in the lead, one thinks this was intended as a B movie when it wasn't at all. There are some wonderful characters on board, some of whom play gangsters trying to get their hands on this all-important machine: Oskar Homolka, Charles Ruggles, Shemp Howard, and Maria Montez. Margaret Hamilton is on hand as the Russell maid.What can I say about John Barrymore, except the man was adept at both drama and comedy and adds a great deal to this movie.Entertaining.